Apparatus for reconditioning the exterior of containers



April 26, 1938. 5, KlMBALL 2,115,203

APPARATUS FOR-RECONDITIONING THB EXTERIOR 0F CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 1l,1935 April 26, 1938. s, F K|MBALL 2,115,203

APPARATUS FOR RECONDITIONING THE EXTERIOR 0F CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 1l,1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 DI IL mmf' APPARATUS FOR RECONDITIONING THEEXTERIOR OF CONTAINERS Filed Oct. ll', 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 DevelzvrApril 26, 1938. S. F. K|MBALL 2,115,203

APPARATUS FOR RECONDITIONING THE EXTERIOR OF CONTAINERS Filed Oct. l1,1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 l 'm @@f p 'By orlzgy April 26, 1938. s KlMBALL2,115,203

APPARATUS FOR RECONDITIONING THE EXTERIOR OF CONTAINERS Filed Oct. l1,1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 26, 1938 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FORRE CONDITIONING THE EXTERIOR OF CONTAINERS Samuel F. Kimball, Portland,Maine, assignor to The Portland Company, Portland, Maine, a

corporation of Maine Application October 11, 1933, Serial No. 693,13

7 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for reconditioning containers andparticularly for that part of the reconditioning that has to do with theexteriors of barrels or casks.

Aside from the inherent problem of thoroughly cleansing such containersautomatically, especially where they have been used'for oil and likematerials, real operating problems exist, first, in keeping the washingand rinsing fluids separate so that the maximum use may be had of each;

second, in maintaining the operation of the machine while the washingand rinsing iiuids are being renewed; and third, in adapting the machineto practical Working conditions.

The need for such a machine and such service has long been recognizedbut although attempts have been made to provide a machine to performsuch work, most of the reconditioning is still done by manual labor.

My concept solves the problems involved by providing for a machine inwhich the washing and rinsing fluids are kept separate. At the sametime, I provide alternate tanks for both fluids so that one may be usedwhile the fluid in the other is being prepared, or the tank refilled orflushed out. I also carry the containers through a driven spray ratherthan through tanks full of liquid, thus permitting the fluids to be keptin circulation. With my invention, therefore, containers may bereconditioned without any manual handling as the containers will beautomatically entered, carried through and discharged from my machine.

These and other features will be apparent from the accompanyingdrawings:

' Fig. 1 is a plan view of an outside washer in accordance with myinvention partly sectioned with conveyor and container releasingmechanism omitted to expose the fluid circuits inthe interior.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, broken away to expose theinterior.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the same from the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 a sectional View through the washing station on line 3-3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 5 a side elevation of the drying station.

Fig. 6 a fragmentary plan view of the barrel controls in the dryingstation.

Fig. 7 isa fragmentary view of a scrubbing unit.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the barrel release.

Fig. 9 is a detailed vertical view of the controls therefor.

Fig. 10 is a cross section of the container conveying and rotatingsystem.

Fig. 11 is a partly sectional view of the container conveyor showing indetail a cross member.

Fig. 12 is a view of the drain valve.

Fig. 13 is a side view of the barrel release, and

Fig. 14. shows in detail the dirt screen sur- 5 rounding the drains.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged partly fragmentary section through the washingstation.

In such a washing machine I provide a base generally indicated at I andan upper portion 10 or framed superstructure 2 including a washingstation generally indicated at W ancJ'aIrinsing station at R and adrawing station at Ihe base Iv is provided with tanks 3` and 3ELseparated by a partition 3b for washing fluid and tanks 4 15 and IIaseparated by the partition 4b for rinsing iiuid. Each of these tanks ispreferably provided with suitable heating means 5 such as shown in thetanks 3 and 4 subject to thermostatic controls such as at 6. 20

Each tank is also provided with valve controlled inlets 1 havingl floatcontrolled valves `|94 and valve controlled outlet drain pipes 8. Valvecontrolled suction outlets 8a lead from each ta'nk to washing iiuid andrinsing fluid pumps 9 and 25 9a respectively.

In each of the tanks I provide scum traps I2, always open to drain as atI3.

Near the front of the washing station and near the rear of the rinsingstation the door F is pro- 30 vided with drains IIB. A valve II ispivoted in each drain and the pivots are extended to form the handle IIIfor the valve I I adapted to be positioned to direct the liquid intoeither of the Washing tanks 3 or 3a, andthe handle I0 by which 35 theother valve II may be positioned to return ltlhe rinsing liquid intoeither of the rinsing tanks Y or a.

By these controls, it will be seen that any tank may be isolated at anytime when the fluid there- 40 in is unsuited for further use withoutinterfering with washing or rinsing operations by turning the valve IIto direct the ow into the lalternate tank and by closing the valve incontrol of the suction outlet 8 for the tank to be isolated as 45will-be apparent from Figs. 1 and-12. `When so isolated, it may bedrained, ushed out, relled, and heated so as to be in proper conditionwhen its alternate needs attention.

From the pumps 9 and 3B fluid conduits or 50 mains I4 lead to a seriesof shower devices in the washing and rinsing stations W and R, eachshower device having an arm I5 to spray the sides of a container andcrossed spray bars I6 disposed to discharge on the ends of thecontainers. 55

The containers C are placed in the machine on the slide A, and are thereheld by thebarrel control arm I'l and the guide A'.

The conveyor generally indicated by C consists of a pair of chains i8carried by the sprockets 20 and 2| l. At suitable intervals; as is shownin -Fig. 10, links in the chains I8 are provided with fixed uprights '58to which are secured yokes 8| to receive cross members C' or C.

Each of the cross memb'ers C and Cz is provided with axle arms C4 (seeFig. 11) on which are mounted for independent rotation bearings 52formed with a flange 83 which serves as a wheel flange with the track I8on each side of the apparatus and with a flange 84 dening with theflange v83 a groove for the yokes 88 in which the bearings 62 areloosely mounted.

The axle arms C* of the cross members C. as shown in Figs. 10 and 11,are provided with discs or sprockets C. A

v Bythis' construction, the movement of the chain and the travel of thebearings 52 along the tracks |8 do not rotate the cross members. As

I desire to have the containers rotate, I provide an auxiliary belt orchain 2| driven by any suitable means and which contacts and rotates thediscs or sprockets C3 and the cross members C2 at any desired speed.

At predetermined intervals the barrel feeding mechanism, to be laterdescribed, releases a barrel to position where it will be picked up bythe conveyor.

The conveyor consists of a pair of chains I5. The chains are driven by amotor (not shown), rotating the sprockets 28 on a shaft 25, suitablymounted in the superstructure 2. Near the front end of the apparatus aresprockets 2|' on a shaft 2lb. The shaft 2|b is journaled in bearings 38in blocks 3| which are slidably connned in guides 32 on thesuperstructure 2. 'Ihe forward ends of the blocks 3| lare secured toweights 34 to keep the chain I8 taut. Y'

The fioor F is provided with a partition F' to prevent the mingling of-the washing andrinsing liquids. Before the washed containers pass overthe partition F' into the rising station,- they are drained. This isaccomplished by lowering the conveyor supporting track I3 to a lowerlevel through a zone D. The conveyor is forced to follow the track i8 bya depressor D' disposed to contact the ends of the cross members C' andC. 'I'he enlarged ends C3 are thereby carried out of contact with thebelt 2| stopping rotation of the cross members C2 and the containers.

The drainage in keach station flows from the partition F' towards thedrains I in vwhence it is directed to the desired tank 3-3 or 4-4 by thevalves The drains are covered by a boxlike shield indicated as at lllin' Fig. 15. Beneath this shield there is a sloped member over thedrains ll, in the inner end of which are mounted the scum retainingmember 23 and the screens 24 and 24l to retain mud and other 'I'hecontainer delivering mechanism may be best seen in combination in Fig.15, and in detail in Figs. 8, 9 and 13. This comprises cams 38 mountedonthe sprocket shaft 2lb between the sprockets 2| and bearings 38.Forwardly of the sprocket bearings 38 bell crank levers I1 are plvotedto the blocks 3|. The levers |'I are provided with cam engaging-portions l'll and two levers VI'l are connected by a bar 1b. 'I'he cam38 rotates with the sprockets 2|, and on each tion holding containers onthe slide A to a Dositionpermitting the container to roll forwardly onto the conveyor between the cross members C and C. As the arm I1 israised, a container is carried on to the conveyor, and the cross barI'lb is moved' to hold the next container on the slide intil it isproperly positioned on the conveyor in urn.

Recondltioning, in many instances, implies painting or otherrefinishing, and inasmuch as for that step the containers must be dry, Ihave provided a drying zone to ensure that the containers will bethoroughly dried in the shortest possible time. The size of this chamberwill depend largely on the speed with which the containers arepassedtherethrough and through the washing and rinsing stations. In thedrawings I have shown a drying unit of capacity to hold threecontainers, but as description of larger capacity would be repetition, Ilimit my description to the. different features of the illustrativeform.

The drying unit preferably consists of a casing or oven 45 and aninclined floor 4| which permits the barrels to roll as they travelthrough the o ven. Heating means 42 for the oven are provided.Theentrance is provided with a swinging door 43 and the exit has a door44. These doors while closed will retain the containers in the oven andkeep other containers from entering. Within the casing 48 containerstops 45 are positioned. The stops 45 are rods extending transversely ofthe oven and are adapted to lle against the containers to hold them onthe inclined floor 4| for a period suillcient to ensure their drynesswhen delivered from the oven.

The doors 43 and- 44 are normally held closed and the container stops 45are normally held in barrel engaging position by a bell crank lever 48pivoted to a shaft 5|, and to the long arm 48* of whichis connected aweight 58, 58* or 58h as the case may be.

The doors 43 and 44 are swung to open position and the container stopslowered to 'permit the passage of the containers through the oven bymeans of the connecting rod ated by the crank 53 on the sprocket shaft28'. The connecting rod 45 is positioned oi center from the sprocket 28and is eccentrically connected to a disc 41 controlling the barrel exitdoor 44, to discs 41", one controlling each of the container stops 45,and a disc 41h controlling the container entrance door 43.

Each disc carries a catch 48 adapted to engage a lug 48' on theshort'arm 48b of the bell crank lever 49 on predetermined rotation ofits disc which rocks the bell crank lever against the force of theweight 58, 58" or 55".

'Ihe bell crank lever 48 is rigidly connected to the container stops 45by the bar 45h which lies parallel to the container stop 45 to which itis rigidly connected by the arm 45* so that the stops 45 pivot with thebell crank lever. 'Ihe bar 4l" is connected to the bell crank 48 at 454and nds bearing in the block 45 on the shaft 5| on which the bell crankVlever pivots.

The opening of the entrance door, the successive movement of thecontainers through the oven, and the opening of the exit door aresynchronized by initial positioning of the discs relative to theconnecting rod 45 so that on predetermined movement thereof, desiredcontact of the catch 48 on the discs and the lug 48' on the bell crank48 is effected. (See Fig. 5.)

In the case of the doors, suitable connections' 45 which is actu-`Adoors to swing them against the forces of the weights 50--50b exactly asthe container stops 45 are pivoted. The stops are pivoted or carrieddownward to permit the barrels to roll along the oven floor when theconnecting rod 4I rotates the discs Il, 41B, 41h to position where thecatch 48 engages the lug 49' to pivot the bell cranklever 49 against theweights 50.

When the discs have revolved to an extent sufcient to permit eachcontainer to advance to its next position, the catch '48 and lug 49 aredisengaged and the weight 50 carries the bell crank lever again to theposition of Fig. 5 in which the containers are stopped and doors closed.

The drying unit may, of course, be made separately or integrally withthe washing machine, but it is synchronized definitely therewith inreconditioning the barrels with the maximum eiliciency and the minimumlength of time so that they may be reflnished by painting.

My invention permits container exteriors to be thoroughly reconditionedat a minimum cost and is well adapted to even the mostl unfavorableconditions and may be adjusted to solve any operating condition. Myinvention may be otherwise formed and modified without departing fromthe spirit thereof if within the limits of the appended claims.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent iszl. Aconveyor for barrels or like containers comprising 'spaced endlesschains, a plurality of pairs of transverse members connecting saidchains and rotatable independently thereof and of the container travel,each of said pairs being adapted to support a container on its side, andmeans to rotate only one of the transverse members of each pairindependently of the conveyor travel.

2. A conveyor for barrels or like containers comprising spaced endlesschains, a plurality of pairs of transverse members connecting saidchains and rotatable independently thereof and of the container travel,each of said pairs being adapted to support a container on its side,means to rotate only one of thel transverse members of each pairindependently of the conveyor travel, and means rendering said lastnamed means inoperative during a portion of said travel.

3. A conveyor for barrels or like containers comprising a. track, spacedendless chains, a plurality of pairs of rotatable transverse membersconnecting said chains, each of said pairs being adapted to support acontainer on its side, track engaging wheels mounted on each of saidtransverse members for rotation independently thereof, and means torotate one of the transverse members of each pair independently of theconveyor travel, and means rendering said last named means inoperativeduring a portion of said travel.

4. A conveyor for barrels or like containers comprising a track, spacedendle chains, a plurality of pairs of rotatable tra sverse membersconnecting said chains, each of said pairs being adapted to support acontainer on its side, track engaging wheels mounted on each of saidtransverse members for rotation independently thereof, and means torotate one transverse member of each pair, said 'means comprising adriven means on said transverse member and driving means disposednormally to contact said driven means, and means rendering said rotatingmeans'inoperative, said means comprising a concaved portion of saidtrack disposed below the plane of adjacent track portions a sumcientdistance t0 ensure the disengagement of said driven and driving meansand means vto force said track engaging wheels onto said concaved trackportion.

5. A conveyor for barrels or like containers comprising a track, spacedendless chains, a plurality of spaced yokes carried by said chains, aplurality of pairs of transverse members, each of said members includingaxle arms and a track engaging wheel mounted on each of said arms forrotation independently thereof, each of said wheels including a pair ofspaced flanges dening a recess for loosely receiving one of said yokes,

each of said pairs of transverse members beingy adapted to support acontainer on its side, and

means to 'rotate one of said transverse members of each pair comprisinga driven member rigidly mounted on an axle arm thereof, and a drivingmember disposed normally to contact said driven member to rotate thetransverse member independently of the travel of said conveyor.

6. The structure of claim 5 and means to'disengage the driving anddriven members to stop rotation of said transverse member thereby.

7. 'I'he structure of claim 5 and means to disengage the driving anddriven members comprising a concaved portion of said track disposedbelow the plane of adjacent track portions a sufficient distance toensure the disengagement-pf said members when said wheels are travelingthrough said concaved portion, and a depressor mounted above said trackto force said wheels into said concaved track portion.

SAMUEL. F.

